Contending Forces


Read by Margaret Espaillat

(4.7 stars; 11 reviews)

Contending Forces is a powerful exploration of race, identity, and love set against the backdrop of a divided America. Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins weaves a narrative that captures the complexities of African American life in both the North and South at the turn of the 20th century, offering a unique perspective that challenges prevailing societal norms.

Through the lives of her characters, Hopkins delves into the struggles and triumphs of Black individuals, highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity. The novel not only serves as a romance but also as a poignant commentary on the social issues of her time, making it a significant work in the canon of American literature.

As one of the early African American women writers, Hopkins's voice is both distinctive and essential, shedding light on the experiences that have often been overlooked. Contending Forces invites listeners to engage with its rich themes and historical context, offering a thought-provoking journey through love and social justice.

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

Preface 5:17 Read by Margaret Espaillat
A Retrospect of the Past 20:01 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Days "Before the War" 13:56 Read by Margaret Espaillat
"Coming Events Cast their Shadows Before" 29:42 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Tragedy 21:42 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Ma Smith's Lodging-House 23:31 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Ma Smith's Lodging-House - Concluded 22:20 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Friendship 37:19 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Sewing-Circle 34:55 Read by Margaret Espaillat
"Love Took up the Harp of Life" 23:44 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Fair 18:13 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Fair - Concluded 30:40 Read by Margaret Espaillat
A Colored Politician 27:51 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The American Colored League 19:58 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Luke Sawyer Speaks to the League 13:06 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Will Smith's Defense of his Race 15:47 Read by Margaret Espaillat
John Langley Consults Madam Frances 18:10 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Canterbury Club Dinner 21:46 Read by Margaret Espaillat
What Easter Sunday Brought 28:39 Read by Margaret Espaillat
The Bitter Arrow 23:50 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Mother-Love 28:40 Read by Margaret Espaillat
After Many Days 37:13 Read by Margaret Espaillat
"So He Bringeth Them into their Desired Haven" 25:00 Read by Margaret Espaillat

Reviews

Lovely reading of the horrible history of treatment of African Slaves and discr…


(4 stars)

Contending Forces by Pauline E. Hopkins. Read by the fine voice of Margaret Espaillat. Espaillat has a lovely mature voice and reads at a human pace. She has one of the best voices of american or Canadian readers for Librivox. Let us never forget the evil treatment of human beings from sub Saharan Africa.However in this book we are informed of the abolitionist movement in England. And by the late 19th century the Boston region being a haven of hope for African Americans. I was dissapointed that the horrible crimes committed against a British former slave owner who moved from Bermuda to North Carolina where the viscious murders and crimes occured, was not further developed upon. One of the most evil Holacuasts ever committed in human history was King Leopold of Belgium's working, torturing, amputating, beheading to death 10 million Africans in the Congo in the late 19th century

First-Rate Reading


(5 stars)

Margaret Espaillat does an excellent job reading this important 1900 novel. The transitions are very good, the diction is always clear, and the dialect is accurate without embarrassing. I can't thank her enough.